The Legend of Nimway Hall: 1940-Josie Read online

  He smiled to himself and then at her as he scrubbed at his jaw with the back of his knuckles. “A confession.”

  “That you’re a turn-tail as well as a boor? I already know that, Gideon. So, if that’s all you’ve come to say, then we are done here, as you said.”

  “Oh, I’m all that, my love, and more. Scornful, pretentious, parochial—”

  “Don’t forget pompous and pigheaded.” Wait. His love? Is that what he just said?

  “And quite full of myself, yes, I know.” He smoothed his hand over hers where she was holding the orb, the pressure of their shared touch lighting little fires against her palm where it met the silky smooth stone. “Then you came into my life, Josie. And I became even more so.”

  “More full of yourself?”

  “Full of you. The challenge you set for me: to be a better man than I’d ever imagined I could be.”

  “I don’t know what you mean by that, Gideon.” Or why he was here in the library when he had been so determined to leave the Hall. She covered his hand with hers. “But what ever you think of yourself, Gideon, you’re a good man. I would never believe, never say otherwise.”

  “There. You challenge me even now.” He cupped her face between his hands, tipped her chin with his thumbs so their mouths were inches from meeting. “Because the one thing I didn’t say at the cider mill, Josie, the one thing I should have said, and I hope to say every day for the rest of our lives together, is that I love you.”

  “You—” What? Oh, God no! It’s happened! Though his gaze was fierce and earnest, he couldn’t have just told her that he loved her, not of his own accord. It was the wicked machinations of the accursed orb that was compelling him to thread his fingers through her hair, to smile softly at her as though bewitched.

  “My beautiful Josie.” He bent toward her mouth, and his kiss would be—

  —heavenly! “No, Gideon, don’t!” She clutched the orb tighter and backed away from the kiss that she would have cherished forever, suddenly protective of the lout. Afraid that he’d become enchanted and was being held against his will by the orb. Was saying such tender and lovely things to her when he’d been so clearly repelled at the idea of her being his partner.

  “Sweet, your hair is wet. You’re shivering.” He slipped his warm arms around her, touched his lips to her temple. “Lost in the woods again tonight?”

  “Yes.” No. Lost in his embrace, in their private fairytale, in the eddies of warmth pouring off his chest. “In the garden. Winnie found her. The Leghorn.”

  He lifted her chin with the crook of his knuckle, his smile relaxed and teasing. “Are you talking about a chicken? Is that how you got wet this time?”

  “I am. I did. Yes, Gideon. My war work, I’ll have you know.” Josie blinked at him, willing herself to take control of her senses, though she was shaking from the cold.

  “Chasing chickens for the war?”

  “Wherever I’m needed, thank you very much.” Suddenly remembering that she must get rid of the orb before it could do any more damage to their lives than it already had, so Gideon could leave on his own, she circled out of his embrace and started toward the door. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to—”

  “You need to be warmed, Josie.” Two strides and he’d cocooned her inside a hearth blanket, carried her to the fireplace like a mummy, and stood her on her bare feet, her back to the fire, the carpet heating her toes.

  She would have objected to his manhandling, but her teeth had begun to chatter and his neck smelled so deliciously of his soap, bay and ginger, the heat of him stealing her power to protect the foolish man from further influence by all this Nimway witchery. Distance from her, and the orb that she was still clutching against her chest, and the whole of the estate was the only way to save Gideon from himself.

  “What were you going to do with the orb, Josie?” He propped her upright with his strong hands, leaned down and peered into her eyes as though he couldn’t get enough of her.

  “I’d rather not say.” But she had to get rid of it quickly. Something powerful must have happened to Gideon since the cider mill. He’d left her like an enraged dragon bent upon destruction, he’d returned as though he was enraptured with her.

  Yes! That was it! The orb had loosed Nimue’s and Merlin’s passions against him, had afflicted him with some kind of powerful love spell.

  “I want you to know, Gideon, that I haven’t seen the orb since you and I kissed in the wine cellar. I don’t know how it got here in the library tonight!” Of all nights!

  “I do.” He was smiling as he smoothed his hand over her cheek, whispered against her ear, “I brought it.”

  “You brought the orb? From where?” He’d gone daft, of course. Was in thrall to it, spellbound and believing its romantic tales. “Where did you find it?”

  A smile teased the corners of his eyes as he turned her toward the fire and added a pair of logs to the dancing flames. “The orb found me.”

  “It found you where?” Fearful for his sanity, she clutched the blanket at her neck with one hand, cradled the orb in the other and lowered herself onto the upholstered stool.

  “About a mile north of the A37, on the Lottisham Road.” He seemed to be smiling at some memory as he watched the sparks snap and soar up the flue.

  “A mile from the A37? That’s not possible, Gideon! I know that road, it’s well south of the boundaries of Nimway Hall. How could the orb have found you there?”

  “I wondered that, too, after it appeared and I realized how far I’d driven from the Hall.” He sat down on the stool opposite her, leaning toward her on his elbows, taking both her hands. “But then I concluded that if Nimue was once the ruler of Avalon, her holdings must have enclosed every hectare of Somerset. Am I right?”

  “I suppose so.” This engineer, this man of logic had succumbed to citing local legends to support his theories. Oh, dear.

  “Then why shouldn’t the orb decide to hitch a ride with me in the Austin?”

  “The orb hitched a ride? You didn’t take it with you when you left the Hall?”

  “Good God, Josie, why would I have done that—in the bitterness I felt when I stormed out of the cider mill? I was on my way to Yeovilton. To a new job. I never wanted to see the bloody orb again. And yet, there it was.”

  “So, to be clear, Gideon—” God knew she was having trouble keeping up with his story “—the orb was sitting in the middle of the road when you—”

  “No. It was sitting in the middle of the backseat of my staff car.”

  “That’s impossible, Gideon!” More evidence of his enchantment.

  “Big as life, my love, glowing back at me as though it planned to ride all the way to the air station.”

  “A moment, Gideon, please. I’m having trouble understanding how the orb—” the moonstone in its golden talon which was settled gently on her lap, its pulse in rhythm with the beat of her heart “—ended up in the backseat of the Austin without you having put it there. I mean, really!”

  He laughed, caught her chin and kissed the end of her nose. “I’ve no idea how it came to be there, Josie. Doesn’t matter in the least. Because I’m certain that I know why it did.”

  “You do?”

  “Because the orb thinks you and I should to be together.”

  “You believe that?”

  “With all my heart. You are the love of my life.”

  “The love of your life?”

  “My beautiful Josie.” He dropped to his good knee, became the whole of her world as he knelt above her, caressed her chin and smoothed his thumb across her lips.

  And then he kissed her, blissfully, thoroughly, hotly, plundered and played, until she was breathless with need for him, as wildly enchanted as he must be.

  She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him close, began kissing him as fiercely, tasting every place she could reach, unable to get enough of him, his lips, his brows, his throat, the lobe of his ear until he began making growling sounds in his
throat and suddenly pulled away and looked into her eyes.

  “Together, Josie. Always.”

  “Together—” just as the orb wished for them. Oh, no! “Gideon, you must tell me what you did after you found the orb.”

  “Turned around on the Lottisham Road and came back here to meet you in the library.”

  “Yes, but, please, tell me exactly what made you decide to turn around.”

  “Exactly?”

  “Yes, please, Gideon. It’s very important.”

  His eyes were alight with passion and promise. “You, Josie.”

  “Me?” Oh, that was fine, then. He decided on his own, wasn’t persuaded by—”

  “And the orb, of course.” He grinned, a giddy lift to his brow that made him look more than a little mad. “We had a talk.”

  “The orb spoke to you?”

  “In its own way.”

  This wouldn’t do at all! Damn the orb and all its wickedness!

  “Gideon, I must ask you something quite serious—” tears stung the backs of her eyes, but she had to be sure, took his hands in hers, so large and kind and masculine. “And you must promise to answer as honestly as you’ve ever answered any question put to you, by anyone.”

  “This sounds serious indeed.” He narrowed his eyes, looked down his handsome nose. “Go ahead.”

  “Are you enchanted?”

  “Enchanted?” He laughed, his eyes glinting in the firelight as he smiled and cupped her face with his fine hands. “Completely, my love! You have enchanted me beyond rehabilitation.”

  “Oh, no, Gideon, I was afraid of that!”

  “Afraid?”

  “That you’ve been bewitched by the orb, and you don’t know it.”

  “Bewitched by you, my love.” He dropped his voice between them, low and sultry, smoothed his forefinger across her lips. “And I’m very, very aware of it.”

  “No, magically bewitched by the Hall, Gideon. And the orb. These outlandish legends of love and desire! How can either one of us be sure you’ve not been beguiled into believing you love me when you don’t?”

  “But I do love you!”

  “You left here barely three hours ago as though I had tainted your honor. Said that we were done. Finished!” She stood, felt the orb slip off her lap onto the carpet at her feet. “And then the orb appears in the backseat of the Austin, and now, here you are in the library, kissing me as though nothing has changed.”

  “Much has changed, Josie. Myself most of all. Inside, where it counts most.” He smiled and stood, then lifted her into his arms, blanket and all, and started for the library door. “I told you before that I’m an engineer, a soldier. I know truth from fantasy. And you are my truth.”

  “But the orb, Gideon?” How could she be sure?

  “A reminder of how little my life would mean without you in it. A reminder that I’m a bloody fool.”

  “And that I’m Arcturus?”

  He stopped in his stride and stared at her, as though still disapproving of her intelligence work. And his approval would make all the difference to their future, because, enchantment or no, they couldn’t remain together without mutual respect.

  “That I was an idiot. Clearly. When I returned here to throw myself on your mercy, I called Todd to tell him I wasn’t coming tonight after all. He had news that involves us both, you and me.” He’d gone suddenly serious, businesslike.

  “About?”

  “Seems I’m to head up a new research section for SOE.”

  “Where?”

  “Here in Somerset. Southill House at first, then Yeovilton once the air station is operational.”

  “You’re staying here?”

  “Is that an invitation?” He grinned and continued toward the door. “Because your Aunt Freddy’s Orb of True Love was right all along. You and I belong together. I want you to marry me. Have our children. We’ll spend our lives making scrumpy and planting barley.”

  A life of bliss and fulfilment.

  “Which changes nothing in the meantime, Gideon. Not where my work for the war is concerned. I’m an agent for His Majesty’s most secret service. And so are you.”

  He stopped at the door, his smile deepened and darkened, as though he was brewing an exotic secret between them. “And so are we, my dear Arcturus.”

  “Oh, Gideon. Invictus. I love you.” Loved their secrets. She slipped her arms around his neck. “And I’m so very glad the orb hadn’t stolen your wits, that you don’t actually believe in the bloody thing.”

  “But I do believe in its power, Josie. The most powerful force the world has ever known.”

  “Love?”

  “Simple as that.” He kissed her as he carried her through the door to the service hall. “There you are, Winnie—” kept kissing her all the way into her office “—see that we’re not disturbed, there’s a good girl—” and into Josie’s bedroom, where she’d left a lamp burning low on her bedside table.

  The bed, tall and testered, the bedclothes plush with a thick down spread, a bank of pillows against the headboard. She’d never thought of taking a man to her bed, but now that was the only thought in her fevered brain.

  This man, in her bed, making love to her. The marvelous man of secrets and honor who was standing with her in his arms in the middle of her room, plundering her mouth and stealing the breath from her. A shiver ran through her that had nothing to do with being wet from the rain.

  “Take me, Gideon. Make me yours.”

  “Take you, Josie?” Gideon raised his mouth from hers and knew from the sultry look in her eyes that he was in deep trouble. Deeply in love and wanting the woman in his arms like flame needed oxygen, burned to slide his hands over her silky skin. “Where?”

  “All the way, please.” She snuggled her lips against his ear, nibbling and tugging.

  “All the way, Josie, to what?” His plan was to kiss her quickly, bid her a good night and leave her safely in her room. Alone.

  “All the way to bed. To wherever this wonderful feeling will take us tonight.”

  “Not a good idea, my love.” Not trusting either himself or the lusty woman in his arms who was trying to kiss his neck and unbutton his shirt. He caught her hands to stop her exploring and managed to stand her on her feet. “Not yet.”

  “When, then? Soon? Father won’t be home all night.”

  Good God, she was serious and even more beautiful when she was pouting, her rosy lips full and damp. “Not until we are married.”

  Hoping to distract her from the dangerous direction she was heading with her fondling, he left her to lock the door against her surprising immodesty, then flicked on the lamp on her dressing table. When he turned back she was still standing in the center of the room, the blanket in a pool at her feet.

  “That won’t do, Gideon.” She was wearing the most god-awfully beguiling pair of formless, oversized flannel bottoms, gathered at the waist, the hems overhanging her bare feet. The top presented a lusciously different prospect. Long-sleeved, knit, military-issued silk jersey, ivory, that followed every curve and offered his aching fingers a placket of four buttons that stopped just below her breasts.

  He swallowed hard, barely breathing, barely able to think. “What won’t do, my love?”

  “To wait. There are things in a marriage that must be tested first.”

  “Things?” He was painfully aware that his erection was fully engaged, ready for the woman. “What sort of things?”

  Her smile was lopsided, worldly and innocent. “Love-making. Those very important things.”

  “You’ve seen for yourself, Josie, that my ‘things’ work perfectly well.”

  “I can see that.” She was doing a poor job of hiding her smile. “And did last night.”

  “Yes, last night.” Not so very long ago. And yet a thousand years.

  “But you were in your knickers at the time. Which doesn’t really count.”

  It counted for everything. “My knee hurt like the devil and yet you aroused me wit
h your touch.”

  “I couldn’t help but notice.” Her eyes widened with her smile. “And oh, how I wanted to touch you everywhere.”

  “Good grief!” He looked down at her fingers that were working the front of his shirt again, caught them before she could continue. “What are you doing?”

  “Proving to you that I’ve been well-trained in all subjects.” She smiled up at him. “I know you still doubt my skills as an intelligence agent.”

  “I don’t, Josie. Truly. My reticence speaks only to my fear for your safety.” He lifted her chin and kissed her, realized only then what she had said and that she was tugging his shirt tails from his trousers. “Well-trained for what exactly?”

  “For every eventuality.” Out came his shirt tails.

  “Josie.” He caught her hand as she went for his belt, tipped her chin again and looked into her eyes. “What training are you talking about?”

  “Special operations.” Said with a highly provocative wink and a wriggle of her shoulders. “Coleshill.”

  He could only blink back at her, trying not to imagine the kind of training she meant. He knew of MI6 officers who performed ‘special duties’ when necessary for a particular operation: infiltrations, kidnaping, the occasional ‘removal’ of a threat, but—

  “How special do you mean, Josie? And where did you receive this training?” The training that allowed her to unclasp his belt buckle without him realizing.

  “Special intelligence training, given just to women. Weapons of Espionage for the Femme Fatale.” She gave a tug and his belt zipped through the loops at his waist, came off in her hands and in a flash she’d reached around and corralled him with it, pulled him tightly against her, her hips against his thighs, his erection against her belly. “Using anything at hand to subdue one’s male target.”

  “Male target? Josie, no!” Horror shook him, the full panorama of the danger she was in. His Arcturus. His dearest love. He lifted her off her feet, carried her to the bed, pressed her back against the bank of pillows and trapped her knees with his bad knee, supporting himself above her on the good one.

  “What kind of training have you been given? Where in God’s name are they planning to send you?” Here is where he would draw the line, sharp and deep.